Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

On behalf of my colleague, Deputy O'Dowd, I thank all those who contributed to the debate. I do not often thank the Government but I thank it for accepting this Bill. That it accepted this Private Member's Bill is indicative of the fact that even it recognises there is a need to do something about the ever increasing burden of charges and fees placed on the heads of the unfortunate new generation attempting to buy a house.

The Minister of State and I have exchanged views on this matter, not always amicably. I make no apology for raising this subject again. I am appalled when I, like everyone else present, including Government Deputies, meet young people in my clinics who, having struggled to buy an apartment or house to get onto the first rung of the property ladder, find themselves burdened with a refuse bill and discover that a management agency has come on board to extract more money from them. In addition, they must repay their mortgages. The situation is incredible and I do not know whether Deputies on the Government side of the House have fully assessed the impact and likely impact in the future of this burden on young couples.

One of the most significant problems now facing young couples in relationships is the financial burden imposed on them. This burden is so great that it can cause disputes in the early stages of the relationship. In many cases, the relationships of young couples living in rented accommodation break up before they even obtain a permanent home owing to the enormous burden of financial responsibility imposed on them. Both men and women must work and do overtime if they are to have a chance of holding on to whatever property they have managed to obtain.

A case concerning rented property was brought to my attention last week. It involved a private development with a portion of affordable housing under Part V of the Planning and Development Act. These were local authority houses in the middle of a private estate. I will not discuss the quality of the houses because the Minister of State is aware of my views on this subject. I believe people should be given ample space and that they need to be able to provide for their families in the future. We have had a tradition of doing so in this country. However, our apartments and general accommodation are getting smaller.

It is embarrassing how few houses are available for families. In most cases we have nothing to offer these families. This is certainly the case in my local authority. The degree to which people are capable of meeting all the financial requirements of the property, irrespective of whether it is rented or owned, is such that if they fall sick or are forced to visit the doctor or be off work for a week, the entire burden closes in on them. It is quite common for a relationship to break up in its early stages simply because of the mounting financial burden of bills and charges.

Ireland is supposed to be one of the wealthiest countries in the world. We are told by the Government that we are doing better than any other country in the world, that we have money to burn and that the country is awash with money, yet this particular group of people are herded into a corner and kept there. Their chances of breaking out of this corner are slim to non-existent.

I will not delay the House other than to say that our society should be able to provide the new generation with ready access to a house, flat or apartment. If members of this generation want to improve themselves and move on, which all people wish to do, they should be facilitated in doing so. People always want to buy their homes. Ireland has a built-in tradition of home purchase. Several Ministers have argued that arrangements are different in other countries. I accept that this is true but we have our own traditions, to which we are entitled.

I hope that by accepting Deputy O'Dowd's Bill, the Government has now recognised that the mounting financial burden on householders has got out of hand and must be tackled. I hope it is. According to the Minister of State, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is responsible for drawing up regulations.

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